Within the world of libraries and librarians, attending an IFLA World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) is a highlight in one’s career. It conjures up all sorts of thoughts in one’s mind about meeting and networking with international librarians, listening to experts in the field, visiting a foreign country, recognition of one’s involvement on professional committees and, most of all, rubbing shoulders with the world leadership of library and information services. However for the majority it is a pipe dream as the cost of attending an international congress of this stature is indeed exorbitant. So when the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) was awarded the bid in 2013 to host the 81st IFLA General Conference and Assembly from 15– 21 August 2015 in Cape Town, so close after it had hosted it in Durban in 2007, it was seen as an event of significance for the African continent. Read more

‘Disruption’ was the word of the day on the 30th of July as Footnote Summit 2015 kicked off in Johannesburg, Emperor’s Palace. Industry leaders, legends and organisations came together at Africa’s leading Digital Publishing event to tackle some of the industry’s toughest new challenges. This year saw speakers and panelists dealing with the physical and metaphysical challenges of the transformation of the book in this new environment where everything from the way the book looks, its distribution and sales model, to its consumption are digital. The world of the book is changing, and it with it. Publishers and technology providers are oftentimes at loggerheads as to where the book is going; at Footnote Summit the discussion tended toward finding the happy balance of collaboration in their entwined role in the future of the book. Read more

Members of the SA Booksellers Association and the Publishers’ Association of South Africa (PASA) gathered at the Sunnyside Park Hotel in Parktown, Johannesburg last night to applaud and be applauded. The annual event is set to thank and celebrate both booksellers and publishers for the roles they play in promoting literacy and a culture of reading by producing and selling quality books in South Africa. The theme for this year’s gala event was 50 Shades of Colour.
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Canal Walk will welcome a new Exclusive Books Café tomorrow. Be sure to refill with some coffee and a book at the EB Café. 

The Book Lounge and the Fugard Theatre invite you to Open Book Cape Town from 9 – 13 September 2015. The programme for the fifth festival has been confirmed and tickets are now available on Webtickets. The festival will include over 100 discussions, debates and workshops over the five days. These events will feature more than twenty international authors and a wealth of local talent. View the full programme on the Open Book Website.